"RECEIVE" - Psalm 147: 1-11; John 1: 9-13

A Sermon by Alex Evans, Pastor

Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA

From Sunday, January 5, 2020

Texts: Psalm 147:1-11; John 1:9-13

“RECEIVE”

            Approximately 10 days ago, most of us gathered for worship on Christmas Eve – here in this sanctuary, or maybe somewhere else. We read the Christmas story from Luke’s gospel. We sang lovely Christmas carols. We gathered at the Communion table; and then, at least in this Sanctuary, we formed a large circle and lit candles and affirmed the great promises of Christmas –

-          the Light of the world comes into the human world;

-          the Light shines in the darkness and no darkness can overcome Christ’s light.

These are powerful and memorable moments – holding candles, singing – that intend to shape our faith and form us for living faithfully.

Christmas is about the coming of God – the Incarnation – the Light and presence and promises of God coming near to us, for us, among us, one with us. And we continue to celebrate that good news – God is real; God cares and comes; God calls us to fellowship and service in God’s name – and this makes all the difference in our lives and in the world.

But now . . . . 10 days removed from that joyous Christmas celebration, where do we find ourselves?

As we move into a 2020, the disparity between rich and poor continues to grow. The proportion of Americans in prison exceeds that of any other nation. The partisan and racial divisions among our citizens become deeper and sharper. Our democratic system of elections and governing has become a tool for the wealthy, and for foreign influence. America has abandoned its leadership as a champion for a clean and healthy environment. And we no longer believe – as we have for so long – that the future for our children will be better than the life we experience. And this weekend, it feels like we are on the brink of war with Iran, . . . . (see Jimmy Carter, Faith, p. 25)

We have a passage today that may meet us right where we are. Listen to John’s gospel, reading from chapter 1, verse 9 – and listen carefully because the words might even take you by surprise:

9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Just after the very powerful and exhilarating news about the coming of God (at the beginning of John) – the Light of the world coming into the human world – the true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world – we have a major shift in this passage.

“He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.”

Wait, . . . what?  We have to pay attention to this.

There seems to be a blindness in the world that does not know the Light when it comes. There seems to be a life-changing power and presence in our midst, and our problem is that we ignore it.

God is among us, and we keep on with the same old, same old?

God is in our face – the Light of the world – and we turn our backs?

Eugene Peterson has a helpful word for this – “DAWDLE.”

To DAWDLE means to live aimlessly, listlessly. (see E. Peterson, As Kingfishers Catch Fire, p.137)

We “dawdle” when we start to feel that our life is just drifting along without real meaning and purpose. We “dawdle” when we get displeased – maybe with our jobs, . . . or our spouses, . . . or our present circumstances – because things are not happening like we want. We “dawdle” when we get so discouraged about our nation and our world. We “dawdle” when we think mostly about being stuck, . . . in despair.

Whenever we DAWDLE, we usually miss God’s abiding presence, or remain blind to God’s exuberant light. It is so easy to do. Indeed, commentator Dale Bruner says these two verses in John – about the world not knowing him, and his own people not accepting him – is a basic summary of the whole gospel story: Jesus, the Savior, the Messiah, the Light, who comes to inaugurate the reign of God, gets a bit of attention, and then the people fall away. The people even crucify him. We are so inclined to dawdling – to aimless, listless living, . . . or worse.

These first days of this New Year should give us some inspired insight to think about this Light shining in the world and what we are going to do about. How might we live – not turning our backs, not same old, same old - but focused, faithful, full of devotion and care?

It is so important to celebrate Christmas – the coming of God, the wonderful light of Christ shining in the darkness, stronger than any darkness.  But it is equally, if not more important, to follow up with our lives – we are to live in the Light. We cannot be part of the world that does not KNOW him, as it says. We cannot be the people we do not ACCEPT him, as it says.

Thankfully, the next verse IS so full of grace and promise: “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.”

RECEIVE – not “dawdle” - is our key word today.

The Greek word is “lambano.” It means to “take to oneself.” We are invited, expected, urged, to “take to oneself” the light that comes into the world - “to take to oneself” the promises and presence of God. “Lambano” means “to welcome,” and “to hold, to grasp intently.”

It means to be so taken with Jesus and the promises of God that it changes us – opens our eyes, moves our hearts, engages our arms and feet and activities - because we have RECEIVED him, we have put our trust in him. We are seeking – not dawdling – to RECEIVE and BELIEVE in God who comes among us, whose light shines in the darkness, and whose presence and care changes everything about our lives.

These two verbs – RECEIVE and BELIEVE – are really important in the gospel of John. And here is the main point. Faith is not something you have. Faith is something you do! Open to the Light that comes into the world, open to God’s love that comes among us in Jesus and enlightens everyone, RECEIVING and BELIEVING always leads to joyful, fruitful living. God comes, not just so we can stand in a circle and sing and celebrate the Light of the world in the human world. God comes to move us toward joyful, faithful, obedient living. (See L. Williamson, Preaching John, p. 5)

This is what famous preacher William Sloan Coffin said: “I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, and then you grow wings.”

The gospel of John is bidding us – “just welcome him – just receive into yourself this gift of life and light that comes in Jesus – and God will work everything else in you the rest of your life. Just receive him into your life – and entrust your life to God’s care – and get on with the business of serving God in the world – and you will find abundant life – purpose, hope, dignity, life. It is an active journey – an ongoing process – trusting and growing, living and serving, seeking and finding, going and doing the ways of Jesus. (see D. Bruner, John)

First you leap, and then you grow wings . . . . and we become children of God – not of blood (biologically), not by willpower (determination), not by strength, but by the sole power of God alone – grace. That is the good news, friends!

This week, I read a wonderful piece by Brian McLaren. Brian McLaren has been a pastor, a teacher, a writer of important books, and an inspiration to me. Brian McLaren wrote this on New Year’s Eve: “2020 will probably be the most significant year in your entire ministry because this is time of global danger and opportunity.” Brian urges us to speak up, show up, stand up in this crucial time as the children of God. Most importantly, children of God need to speak up, show up, and stand up with a focus on, what he calls, the “5 P’s.”

-          The Planet. God told us to care for it as good stewards. We’re trashing it as greedy, heartless dictators. Climate change is the most urgent of our problems, but it’s the tip of the melting iceberg. Look at the extinction and loss of insects . . . birds, mammals, fish … Think about loss of soil, fresh water, coral reefs, fisheries … Think about how many paradises are being paved for parking lots or fossil fuel extraction.

-          Poverty. In 2015, 80 rich individuals owned as much wealth as half of the earth’s people. In 2016, the number went down to 61. In 2017, it was 42. In 2018, it was 26.  Think about that . . . in terms of power. Think of how much power those 26 people have over the lives of the rest of humanity. That’s a problem.

-          Peace. When the planet is being exploited, and so are the poor, the results are predictable: drought, flood, famine, hunger, mass migration, petty crime, organized crime, political corruption, civil war, world war, nuclear war. Dr. King was right: our choice is no longer between violence and nonviolence: it is between nonviolence and nonexistence. In times of stress, we are more likely to lash out at others, to blame others, to choose fight and flight over love and curiosity, to put winning battles over winning friends.

-          Political corruption. We’re in the midst of a constitutional crisis and what some call a “cold civil war.” At the root of our political problems are racism (America’s original sin) and greed (its other original sin), both of which fuel abuses of power at all levels of government.  . . . Behind the scenes, national governments are becoming puppets of a global oligarchy … If you haven’t seen this unfolding, I don’t know what to say …

-          All People, no exceptions. This past week, we’ve seen another wave of vile anti-Semitic attacks. Whether it’s Jews, Muslims, LGBTQ persons, refugees, immigrants, Mexicans, Sikhs, Hindus, liberals, conservatives, the media, or whoever … we have a growing number of religious and political demagogues who build their base by scapegoating some vulnerable group and blaming them for all of our problems. Suddenly, Jesus’ teachings about loving our neighbor as ourselves (no exceptions, including our Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, atheist, Mexican, or any other kind of neighbor) seems positively revolutionary.  (posted – www.BrianMcLaren.net)

McLaren says we should put these 5 P’s – planet, poverty, peace, political corruption, and all people – on 3 x 5 cards and keep finding ways to work on them. We are children of God – this is what we do.

When we RECEIVE and BELIEVE and become children of God by God’s amazing grace, it is about living, doing, being active in the world for God’s light, God’s love, God’s healing and hope everywhere.

What are we going to do as we move into the New Year? May we live faithfully and lovingly as children of God. Amen.

Prayer of Commitment: Holy God, to turn from you is to fall; to turn to you is to rise; to receive, to believe – to live loving and serving – that is to abide forever. We seek that way following Jesus. AMEN